The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - Butler University

Core Courses Offered by English
PCA230-EN, Writing the Imagination:
When you look out the window do you see
a tree or the rhythmic sway of dark line and
bright color? Do you see a field of grass or
waves of innumerable greens? This course,
which satisfies the perspectives in the creative
arts requirement of the core curriculum, will
encourage you to see the world through the
eyes of an artist by focusing on the natural
world. To achieve this we will examine a variety
of formats including poetry, the personal essay,
painting and photography in relation to key
aesthetic concepts such as the sublime, the
beautiful and the picturesque. Although we
begin with the Romantic turn to nature of the
early nineteenth century, we will juxtapose
contemporary writers and artists with those
from earlier periods to demonstrate how the
way we see the world is culturally determined.
We will try to complement our readings with
trips to nearby museums (IMA), galleries, and
the studios of local artists. In addition, we will
take advantage of such local natural resources
as the grounds of the IMA, the canal walk and
Holcomb Gardens, where you will find the raw
material for your own reflection and creative
expression. (U)(3). Fall and spring.
PCA231-EN, Writing the Self: Over the past
two decades, critics, publishers and readers
have celebrated the growth of a field of writing
known as “creative non-fiction.” Among the
forms of creative non-fiction, none are more
popular than those that allow the writer to tell
the story of his or her own experience. Students
will read memoirs, personal essays, autobiographies
and travel writing. We will experiment
writing in and about each of these forms. (U)
(3). Occasionally.
PCA232-EN, Seeing the World and the Self:
When you look out the window do you see
a tree or the rhythmic sway of dark line and
bright color? Do you see a field of grass or
waves of innumerable greens? This course will
encourage you to see the world through the
eyes of an artist by focusing on the natural
world. To achieve this we will examine a variety
of formats including poetry, the personal essay,
painting and photography in relation to key
aesthetic concepts such as the sublime, the
beautiful and the picturesque. We will juxtapose
contemporary writers and artists with those
from earlier periods to demonstrate how the
146 Butler University
way we see the world is culturally determined.
We will complement our readings with trips
to nearby museums (IMA), galleries, and the
studios of local artists. In addition, we will
take advantage of such local natural resources
as the grounds of the IMA, the canal walk and
Holcomb Gardens, where you will find the raw
material for your own reflection and creative
expression. (U)(3). Occasionally.
TI210-EN, Inquiries in American Lit and
History I: This course will be organized
around a theme in early American literature,
and thereby seek to increase students’ understanding
of major works, authors and literary
movements of the period. Texts for the course
will come primarily from the period up to the
American Civil War, and both the texts and
the authors studied will be placed within their
larger literary and cultural contexts. Particular
themes for the course will be published each
semester in the schedule of classes. (U)(3).
Fall only.
TI211-EN, Inquiries in American Lit and
History II: This course will be organized
around later American literature, and thereby
seek to increase students’ understanding of
major works, authors and literary movements
of the period. Texts for the course will come
primarily from the period after the American
Civil War, and both the texts and the authors
studied will be placed within their larger literary
and cultural contexts. Particular themes for
the course will be published each semester in
the schedule of classes. (U)(3). Spring only.
TI212-EN. Inquiries in British Lit and
History I: This course will be organized around
early British literature, and thereby seek to increase
students’ understanding of major works,
authors and literary movements of the period.
Texts for the course will come primarily from
the period up to 1800, and both the texts and
the authors studied will be placed within their
larger literary and cultural contexts. Particular
themes for the course will be published each
semester in the schedule of classes. (U)(3).
Fall only.
TI213-EN. Inquiries in British Lit and
History II: This course will be organized
around later British literature, and thereby seek
to increase students’ understanding of major
works, authors and literary movements of the
period. Texts for the course will come primarily